Latching mechanism



Ap 1, .1941. w. s. SAUNDERS LATCHING MECHANISM Filed May 15, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENT OR.

W. S. SAUNDERS LATCHING MECHANISI Filed lay 15, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTOR. WA ER $.SAUND RS Patented Apr. 1, 1941 LATCHING MECHANISM Walter S. Saunders, Pontiac, Mich., assignor to American Forging & Socket Company, Pontiac, Mich a corporation of Michigan Application May 15, 1939, Serial No. 273,608

. 2 Claims.

This invention relates to latching devices, and particularly to an improved double latch for containers and compartments, such as motor vehicle hoods and the like. An important object of the invention is to provide improved means for latching the hood of an engine, or any other enclosure, in such manner that a double catch is provided, the holding parts of which act successively upon the same closure.

Another object is to provide such serially acting holding means, one holding means releasable only from outside the enclosure, and acting normally to hold it tightly closed, while a secondary holding means, which is brought into I play by release of the first, functions both as a safety catch and to limit opening movement of the hood or other closure, the secondary holding means being operable only from within the enclosure thereinto after this is made possible by release of the primary latch.

A further object is to improve and simplify the constructions disclosed in my previously filed copending applications, Serial numbers 139,778 now Letters Patent No. 2, 9 and 13 now Letters Patent No. both dated May 7, 1940, to increase the rigidity and security thereof while reducing costs of manufacture.

Further objects include the provision, in such a double latching mechanism, of improved means for positively holding secondary or safety latch in position to prevent unwanted complete release of the hood or other held part, and the provision of improved means whereby the holding parts may be adjusted to compensate for wear, and for differences in the clearances between the held parts.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawings illustrating preferred embodiments of my invention and wherein similar reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a fragmentary and somewhat diagrammatic side elevational view of the front portion of a'motor vehicle provided with hood latching means constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the latch mechanism on a larger scale, adjacent parts of the vehicle and hood being shown in section, and the latching parts being shown in fully closed and locked position.

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the latch mechanism, corresponding to a vertical the keeper.

section taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of the Y keeper element, latch bolts and adjustable support for the keeper,'shown apart from the remainder of the mechanism.

Figures 5, 6 and 7 are views corresponding respectively to Figures 2, 3 and 4, showing a some- .what modified construction.

Referring now to the drawings:

, Reference character In designates the engine enclosure or hood of a motor vehicle, which also incorporates a passenger compartment l2, separated by a dash panel I from the engine compartment. Cover section l5 of the hood is pivotally supported at its rear extremity by hinge means l6, attached to the dash'panel l4.

A keeper 20 is attached to the interior of the hood cover near its front end, and projects downwardly therefrom. The supporting means for the keeper comprises a bracket 2|, bolted or otherwise secured to the cover, and having a serand the latter toward the front.

Fixedly carried by the frame work, designated ll, of the fixed hood section, and located in positi'on to be entered by the keeper when the cover is closed, is a sheet metal latch casing 30, the upper portions of whose side walls, adjacent its open top, are inclined, as shown in Figure 3, to guide the keeper thereinto. Its side walls are so spaced as to snugly embrace the side walls of the keeper, and prevent side play. In appropriate position beneath the keeper, the side walls of the casing are also pressed outwardly to form a substantially cylindrical spring well 3| in which is trapped a compression spring 35. The spring is engageable by the somewhat pointed extremity of the keeper, resists closing movement ofthe lid, and also serves to open the latter to a desired extent when the primary latch bolt 40 is released.

Latch bolt 4|! normally overeng-ages the shoulder 25, to hold the hood tightly closed, while a cable 42, attached to a laterally projecting ear carried by the bolt, extends rearwardly, through the dash panel and into th passenger compartment, where it may be attached to a.release lever ll.

A second latch bolt so is provided with a hooked portion I normally overeng-aging the shoulder I, but spaced far enough therea-bove so that it acts only to limit opening movement of the lid when bolt 40 is released. An integral linger portion ll extends upwardly from bolt II, and the extent of opening movement permitted by the secondary locking portions II, II, upon release of the bolt M, is sumcient to permit reaching into the engine compartment and grasping the ilnger portion I, to release the secondary bolt ll manually. Upon such release of the secondary locking mechanism, the hood may be tully opened.

when the hood is closed, an aperture I! therein overengagcs the upper end of the finger portion II, posi-tively maintaining the secondary latch bolt in looking position. A single tension spring I! extends between the ears I, II, and serves to draw both bolts toward locked position.

In the somewhat modified construction shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7, in which parts corresponding to those already described have been given like reference numerals distinguished by the addition of the letter A to each. the spring "A, which serves to impart initial opening movement to the hood IIA upon release of the primary latch bolt A, is mounted upon an upward extension A of the hooked keeper memher "A. The sprinz supporting extension A projects upwardly from the latch casing and is adapted to project into a hole "A in the hood.

The operating cable 42A is fastened to a brackat A riveted or otherwise attached to the bolt A,andserv'ingalsotosm porton endofthe spring 1A, the other end of the spring being hooked in an ear "A, ond-ary latch bolt "A and extending through a clearance opening "A in the side of the latch casing "A.

I claim:

1. Double latching means for closures and the like, comprising in combination with a support and an element to be held, primary and secondary holding members, one operable from each side of said element, the primary holding member being opemtively engageable with said element when the latter is partly opened, and acting to limit opening movement thereof to an extent which permits reaching through the partly open element to release said secondary holding member from the same side of the said element as the primary holding member, said holding members comprising oppositely acting latch pieces out-tinned from the secmovably carried by said support, and a keeper portion. carried by the element to be held, hav-. ins oppositely facing longitudinally spaced abut ments proiectable between and adapted to be overengaged by said latch pieces, remotely controllable operating means connected to the primary latch piece, a finger portion for directly actuating the other latch piece, s. latch casing canried by said support and having a pair of substantially parallel walk, said latch pieces comprising a pair of hook members pivoted and guided between said walls in opposite and inwardly facing relation, said keeper portion being prolectable between said walls and between said hook members, said hook members being successively engageable with the abutments thereof, and common tensile spring means acting upon both of said hook members to urge them individually into blocking engagement with said keeper portion.

2. Double latching means for closures and the like, comprising in combination with a support and an element to be held, primary and secondary holding members, one operable from each side of said element, the primary holding member being operatively engageable with said element when the latter is partly opened, and acting to limit opening movement thereof to an extent which permits reaching through the partly open element to release'sald se ondary holding member from the some side of the said element as the primary holding member, said holding members comprising oppositely acting latch pieces movably carried by said support, and a keeper portion, carried by the element to be held, having oppositely facing longitudinally spaced abutmcnts projectabie between and adapted to be overengaged by said latch pieces, remotely conrollable operating .means connected to the primary latch piece, a finger portion for directly actuating the other latch piece, a latch casing said support and having a pair of substantially parallel walls. said latch pieces comprising a pair of hook members pivoted and guided between said walls in opposite and inwardly facing relation, said keeper portion being prolectable between said walls and between said hook members, said hook members being successively engageable with the abutments thereof, and common tensile spring means acting upon both of said hook members to urge them individually into blocking engagement with said keeper portion, said walls, at a position below and between said hook members, being formed to retain a compression spring in position to be engaged and compressed by said k eper portion when the held element is moved to closed position.

WALTER S. SAUNDERS. 

